MOTIVATION FOR THE MISSION

May 25

Have you ever thought about what motivated Jesus to come to Earth? To seek and save the lost? To endure mocking, suffering, and death on a cross? I’m sure we all know the most obvious answer is…Love. For God so loved the world…But it was also and still is the lostness, helplessness, and hopelessness humanity is experiencing because of sin and the works of the devil that motivates Jesus and motivates us…Let me show you in scripture…

Scriptures: Luke 4:14-21

Notes:

What motivates Jesus?
Luke 4:14-21 NLT

Our Salvation - Poor in Spirit.

In Matthew 5:3, Jesus says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” This means those who recognize their spiritual poverty and lack of God. Jesus came to proclaim that those who see their need for God will not only find God but will belong to the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus came to forgive and save those who recognize their need - Luke 5:27-32

Our Freedom - Captives released…the oppressed set free…

Jesus came to show there is deliverance and freedom from demonic possession and evil oppression. To bring freedom to people enslaved by their sinful addictions and feel powerless in these strongholds. There is power in the name of Jesus.
Luke 4:31-37

Our Restoration - The blind will see…Healings and miracles

Luke 4:38-41
Physical and spiritual blindness

(Luke 4:22-30 The people of his hometown were spiritually blind and did not want to see who He truly is, but the demons proclaimed who He was.)

The Good News - The time of the Lord’s favor has come

Luke 4:42-44
Jesus was motivated by the message of the Kingdom of God…The kingdom of God is at hand and near…come all sinners, repent and be forgiven, all who are hurting and trapped, be free, all who are sick and need healing and be healed…The good news is that there is forgiveness, freedom, and restoration. Those who feel hopeless, helpless, powerless, unforgivable, unloved, confused, and lost don’t have to stay that way… Jesus had come to destroy the work of sin and the devil and restore our relationship with God and the glory of God in our lives. You don’t keep good news like this to yourself!

What else motivated Jesus?
The Way, the Truth, and the Life

John 14:1-7

The Way - there is only one way to heaven and only one place or person to your faith or trust in to get there and it’s in Jesus.
The Truth - in a world full of lies and tricks to sell you another way, another religion, another philosophy, there is only one absolute truth we can stand on, and it’s Jesus. The lie we've been sold is the life we see in this world and think it's forever, it's not…
The Life - in a world where you are told to live this life and have this stuff and do this with your life. Yet, in your pursuit of this so-called life, you still find yourself empty and wanting more…it’s because we all have a God-shaped hole, a void where God belongs, and when we let Him into our hearts, He satisfies our longing.

John 10:9-11 Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. 10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. 11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.

Jesus offers a clear choice in a world of confusion. Clarity of one door instead of thousands, Jesus said He is the door John 10:9-16

Eternal Destinies

Matthew 13:24-30; 36-43 - Wheat and weeds parable
Jesus was motivated by eternal destinies in heaven or hell. Jesus spoke of heaven and hell often.
Jesus spoke of hell more than anyone else in the Bible. He referred to it as a place of “outer darkness” where “there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matt. 8:12). In other words, all the joys that we associate with light will be withdrawn, and all the fears that we associate with darkness will be multiplied. And the result will be an intensity of misery that makes a person grind his teeth in order to bear it. Jesus also refers to hell as a “fiery furnace” where law-breakers will be thrown at the end of the age when he returns. “The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matt. 13:41–42). He calls it “the hell of fire” (Matt. 5:22), “eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matt. 25:41), “unquenchable fire” (Mark 9:43), “eternal punishment” (Matt. 25:46). -John Piper, https://www.crossway.org/articles/jesus-said-more-about-hell-than-anyone-in-the-bible/srsltid=AfmBOorsg3sgTttWFdIBo9pwsyh6zFWm6mY071yRebdPxwvnnZsHtwsJ

Compassion For Us

Matthew 9:35-38

Jesus sees our true state and feels concern, compassion, and shows love by going after us like a shepherd would go after a lost sheep.

Closing:

I’m motivated by all of this, too. There’s hope for the hopeless, help for the helpless, power for the powerless, freedom for the captive, forgiveness for the sinner. There’s one door, not many doors, there’s one way, not many ways. There is one life that is true life.

The Kingdom of God is here and welcomes all who want to enter! The message of God’s kingdom is good news because if we’re honest, the world is in bad shape. Don’t let the momentary joys of this world fool us. We’ve been blinded by entertainment and the happiness money can buy. The truth is…we can have all the good things in this life, but if we don’t have Jesus, we are not ready for eternity.

I believe compassion comes from our hearts and motivation to reach the lost because we know the way, the truth, and the life. So when you see people who don't know the hope and truth of Jesus, your compassion and concern for them move you to action.

As I was reading the Bible this past week…Matthew 12:21 And his name will be the hope of all the world.”

When you have a message you believe in and know is true, you want to get it out for all, especially one that will save the world from death.

When John the Baptist wanted to confirm Jesus was the Messiah, this is what Jesus said to tell John in prison…Matthew 11:2-5 John the Baptist, who was in prison, heard about all the things the Messiah was doing. So he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, 3 “Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?” 4 Jesus told them, “Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen— 5 the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.”

Your Redemption is Christ’s Motivation

Hebrews 12:2 says, “Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame.” This phrase highlights Jesus' motivation in enduring the cross. The "joy" refers to the anticipated outcome of His sacrificial work, including the redemption of humanity and His exaltation.

How about you? Do you need salvation? Freedom? Restoration? Hope? The light of the way, the truth, and the life? The assurance of eternal life? Open your heart, believe, and receive today. Jesus is here and has come to bring His Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven, so why not experience what we can now?!

Discussion

What is one thing from the message that resonated with you?
Which part of Jesus’ mission (Luke 4:14-21) speaks most to your life right now: salvation, freedom, or restoration? Why?
What is one area in your life where you have experienced Jesus’s freedom or healing?
In John 14:6, Jesus states: “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” How do you respond to that in a world that says different?
In what ways do we try to “fill the void” with the world rather than let Jesus satisfy us?
How does understanding eternal destinies (heaven and hell) change the urgency of our mission?
What can we do this week to live out Jesus’ compassion and mission? This month? This year?
What additional notes did you make during the sermon?
What can we pray for regarding the sermon? Do you have any prayer needs?

The most important decision you will ever make!

If you’re ready to trust in Jesus for salvation and eternal life we encourage you to process this decision with a strong believer and when you’re ready say a simple prayer like this from your heart: Dear God, I acknowledge and admit I have sinned. I see my need for Jesus Christ. I believe in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I believe I am forgiven and cleansed of my sin by His death. I also believe I have eternal life because of His resurrection from the dead. I repent, I turn away from my old ways and I choose to live my life to worship you and follow Jesus, Amen!

We would love to know if you decided to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Let us know here.